GAIFC Visits PCI, A 'Greater South Asia is Emerging': Chairman
Source : PCI Date : 23-05-2014 By : Our Staff
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A delegation from Gansu Association for International Friendly Contact (GAIFC) visited Pakistan China Institute (PCI) on 28th March, 2014 for a candid interaction with the PCI team to discuss contemporary and regional issues, and areas of mutual cooperation.
The GAIFC delegation was led by the Vice President, Liu Guangjun, Secretary General, Li Mingbao, and Research Fellows, Li Chaofeng and Shi Boyin. The PCI team was headed by the Chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain, along with Youlin Associate Editor, AizaAzam, Research Associates, Zahra Belal and Adeel Wahid, and IT Specialist,NaumanEjaz.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by Senator Mushahid Hussain who subsequently recounted his long and deep association with China. Highlighting the emerging geo-political trends, the Senator explained that there is a power shift from the West to the East with deterioration of the economic, military and political might of the US and other dominant Western powers, and the high paced economic growth and development of China and other ASEAN countries. He observed that Pakistan has always welcomed the peaceful rise of China and considered it a source of strength and stability for the regional countries.
He stated that a new regionalism is emerging in South Asia, which is defining a “Greater South Asia” that includes Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran and China, in addition to the seven South Asian countries. He said recent developments like the observer status given to India, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and China in SAARC testify the emergence of regional integration that is defined by cooperation in energy and economy, knit together by networks of pipelines, roads and railway.
The Chairman also stressed that China should play a more proactive role in the region by enhancing its soft power. It is important to disseminate the Chinese narrative and perspective on issues of significance, an aspect on which PCI has made many contributions e.g. Chinese language classes, documentaries on China, a cultural magazine and online newspaper etc. On the upcoming project, the delegation was apprised of a trilateral conference which PCI is jointly organizing with China's Xinhua news agency this year in June, Hong Kong; the conference shall bring together journalists, politicians, academia and experts from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan to discuss the emerging new scenario in Afghanistan and the region. He expressed the hope that PCI and GAIFC can work together to open new areas of cooperation and research.
Mr. Liu Guangjun stated that he has been a staunch proponent of Pak-China friendship and has made multiple trips to Pakistan over the years. He hoped that his association, GAIFC, could further develop ties with institutions in Pakistan to work together to progress people-to-people interaction between Pakistan and China. Pakistan-China Institute (PCI), he said, being a premier think-tank on Pakistan-China nexus is significant in this regard. He was extremely amenable to develop collaboration with PCI which he said could be worked out in the coming months between the two institutions.
With 2015 declared as the year of Pak-China Friendship, such people-to-people interactions between the two countries are timely forerunners that can help build the momentum for enhancing bilateral relations. Such in-focus discussions result in defining areas of mutual interest that can be taken up at the state or individual level.